Madrid opens Europe’s largest EV bus charging depot
By Luke Willetts - 8th May 2024
EMT Madrid Carabanchel depot
Spain – According to the EU Urban Mobility Observatory, Madrid’s municipal transport company (EMT Madrid) has added 118 inverted pantograph chargers at its electric charging station in the southern Carabanchel district, making it Europe’s largest electric charging station for urban buses. The expansion means that 260 e-buses can be charged simultaneously. Of the EUR 11.3 million spent, EUR 10.1 million in funding came from the European Union’s “NextGenerationEU” investment fund, which aims to support the implementation of low-emission zones.
The newly installed chargers feature inverted pantographs which connect to the buses via Wi-Fi. These pantographs eliminate the need for operator intervention with the charging cycle taking up to three-hours, which is facilitated by a mechanical arm connected to each vehicle roof. Furthermore, there are solar panels on the roof of the depot to minimise the energy demand on the grid. EMT aims to install an additional 90 chargers by the end of 2025.
